Andrea Wan's reflexive illustrations

Born in Hong Kong, raised in Vancouver, relocated to Berlin, Andrea Wan discovered her talent for illustration when making an animated short for her Film graduation project at Emily Carr University. The animation was based on some of her sketches and her friends persuaded Andrea to carry on this artistic path.

Dream On Little Ghosts, illustration by Andrea Wan

Following an year in Denmark to study illustration and design at Designskolen Kolding, Andrea Wan started a freelancer illustration career, gathering projects from top publications like New York Times, Nylon, Wired, The Globe and Mail, from fashion/lifestyle brands (R.Newbold, Pocketo) and web communities (Mozilla, My Space).

Her personal works, made in a combination of ink, gouache, watercolor, pencil or Photoshop are surreal spontaneous compositions, or as the artist calls them, emotional landscapes, depicted with basic colors and simple lines, sometimes with intricate geometric details.

Inspired by unrefined imagery like that found in children’s drawings or street graffiti Andrea aims to create honest, unplanned art. Her introspectiveillustrations deal with serious themes such as frustration, fear and desire translated in a lighthearted way.

Recurrent characters and artistic symbols such as ghosts, horses, people with masks, as well as personifications of nature/inanimate objects or humans morphed into habitats enhance the dreamlike quality of Andrea Wan’s art. You can purchase prints of some of her compelling illustrations at Artrebels.

Although she considers herself a beginner in the art world, Andrea Wan’s résumé already lists solo shows in important art venues in Berlin, Barcelona and Vancouver, an award from Creative Quarterly Professional Illustration competition, while her grad short film Revolve was selected for Vancouver Asian Film Festival 09 and New Asia Film Festival 10. Great start I’d say!